In March 2021, the Prime Minister's Office published the government's "National Strategy on R&D and Application of Artificial Intelligence," outlining the country's AI ambitions through 2030. The strategy sets specific, measurable, and incremental targets for 2025 and 2030, focusing on investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure.
The Vietnamese government recognizes AI as a crucial technology for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and pledges to align its AI investments with socio-economic development goals, national defence and security, and the needs of entrepreneurs. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of creating a legal framework to develop and apply AI in a manner that puts people at the centre, avoiding technology abuse and infringement upon individual rights.
While Vietnam's AI strategy demonstrates a commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth, concerns remain regarding the potential use of AI for surveillance and the erosion of human rights. The strategy tasks the Ministry of Public Security with developing legal documents related to privacy protection and human rights in the context of AI development and application. However, the country's track record on digital rights and freedom of expression raises questions about the government's intentions.
Vietnam has been investing in various AI initiatives, such as the development of "smart cities" and the deployment of AI-enabled facial recognition technology in "rice ATMs" to ration food during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these projects aim to improve citizens' quality of life and streamline public services, they also raise concerns about the potential for increased surveillance and the lack of transparency surrounding the use of personal data.
The country has also been working to establish a comprehensive data protection framework, with the Ministry of Public Security's draft Personal Data Protection Decree (PDPD) expected to be issued soon. The inclusion of concepts such as "data controller" and "data processor" in the latest version of the draft PDPD suggests a move towards GDPR-like principles. However, the effectiveness of these measures in protecting citizens' rights remains to be seen, given the state's history of using legislative machinery to acquire personal data and conduct mass surveillance.
As Vietnam continues to develop its AI capabilities, it is crucial for the government to prioritize the development of a robust ethical framework that ensures transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. The country's endorsement of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI in November 2021 is a positive step, but concrete actions and oversight mechanisms are needed to translate these principles into practice.
While the country's strategic investments in AI have the potential to drive economic growth and improve public services, the government must strike a delicate balance between innovation and the protection of citizens' rights.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/